Coursework Requirements

Master of Architecture (M.Arch)

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) is a 90-credit professional degree for those seeking to become licensed architects. There are two pathways into the M.Arch program depending on a student’s background and undergraduate education.

M.Arch Curriculum Summary and Diagram

Option I: Three-Year Program

Our standard professional program is a three-year course of study that is aimed at applicants who did not complete a pre-professional degree in architecture including a full complement of studio and technology courses. Applicants for the three-year path have often studied fine/studio arts, biology, english, geology, art history, physics, etc. The three-year program is also appropriate for students who may have studied some architecture but did not complete a pre-professional B.S. major in architecture or its equivalent. For example, the three-year program is appropriate right program for University of Minnesota B.D.A. students.

Option II: Two-Year Program

Applicants who have a pre-professional B.S. in Architecture, or its equivalent, qualify for the two-year M.Arch program. Applicants must have completed at least one course in each building technology area of structures, materials & methods, and environmental technologies; and at least four semesters of architecture design studios. The portfolio must exhibit a proficiency of design equal to students having completed the first year of the three-year program. M.Arch credits for the first year are waived for Option II students, requiring them to take a total of 59 credits to graduate.


The M.Arch program is organized around three years of graduate study: Graduate Design 1 (GD1), Graduate Design 2 (GD2), and Graduate Design 3 (GD3). Professional studies courses for the 3-year and 2-year M.Arch tracks are sequenced within four primary categories: Design and Representation; Building Technology; History, Theory and Pro-Practice; Electives. During the first two years, the M.Arch curriculum intentionally distinguishes between fall and spring semester experiences. The fall consists of full-semester courses that fulfill fundamental skills in the areas of critical making and representation, including design studio, building technology, history, and professional practice courses. The parallel structure enables close integration with courses like design studio and structures. The spring is a combination of half-semester modules, full-semester courses, and a one-week workshop called a catalyst. Spring required courses and elective offerings develop skills in areas of social engagement and environmental stewardship—in addition to other emerging topics. The third and final year of the M.Arch program represents the integration of the two skill areas in what is called critical engagement. Every year, May term study abroad options are available for qualified students in any summer semester. 


M. Arch Required and Elective Course Descriptions

Required Courses


Design and Representation (45 credits)—The relationship between design and representation anchors the core M.Arch curriculum through a sequence of required studios that are designed for students to engage new and unfamiliar content, to think critically, and to work with individual rigor and collective intensity.


Required Professional Studios and Catalyst:


Building Technology (15 credits):

The Building Technology sequence focuses on the development of pedagogy across technical aspects of design: construction, materials, structural systems, and the environmental technologies that create healthy, sustainable and thoughtful environments.


History/ Theory and Professional Practice (12 credits):

The History, Theory, and Professional Practice sequence focuses on the development of pedagogy across scales of time, geographies, buildings, and cities. 


Electives (18 credits):

M.Arch students are required to take 18 credits of architecture electives, ARCH 5xxx or ARCH 8xxx. At least 3 credits must be in ARCH 54xx or 84xx. Students who wish to take electives outside the Department may do so with written permission from the Director of Graduate Studies. These courses must be 5000-level or above for graduate credit. 

Concurrent Degrees

Students who enter the M.Arch program may also apply to one of the M.S. in Architecture programs. The concurrent degree program enables M.Arch students to overlap up to 24 credits from the 90-credit M.Arch program. Option I students in the concurrent degree program can complete both degrees in a minimum of 3-1/2 years (seven semesters). Option II students require a minimum of 3 years (six semesters).

Master of Science in Architecture (M.S.)

Heritage Conservation and Preservation (HCP)

The M.S. in Architecture - Heritage Conservation and Preservation track requires a total of 33 credits, typically completed over one-and-a-half years. Coursework includes two foundation courses (6 credits), at least two core competency courses (6 credits), six credits of electives in architecture, six credits of electives outside of architecture, and 9-10 credits for the Plan A Thesis or Plan B Project(s). At least 24 of the credits are completed before registering for either the Plan A Thesis or a Plan B Project(s). Students enrolled in the M.S. in Architecture - Heritage Conservation and Preservation track may select either the Plan A Thesis or Plan B Project(s) to demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in their major field, the ability to work independently, and the ability to present the results of their investigation effectively.

Students are also strongly encouraged, although not required, to obtain an internship during the summer between their first and second years in the program.  Past students have successfully applied for internships located throughout the United States that were listed on preservenet, as well as those with various federal agencies that are organized yearly by the National Council for Preservation Education. 

Required courses

Foundation courses (6 credits):

Core competencies—at least two required (6 credits): 

Elective courses inside architecture (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester. Please see the current list of suggested electives inside architecture, as well as class schedule for details. Note: additional core competency courses beyond the minimum two required can qualify as elective courses inside architecture.

Elective courses outside architecture (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester.  Please see current list of suggested electives outside architecture, as well as class schedule for details.

Thesis or Project(s) (9-10 credits):

For the Plan A thesis, students must enroll in ARCH 8777 for 10 credits. For the Plan B Project, students register for 9 credits of additional coursework (typically three, three-credit courses) and develop one or two projects/papers requiring up to 120 hours of additional work. The Plan B coursework may be a combination of directed studies, courses in architecture, or courses in related fields outside architecture, determined with consultation and approval by the M.S. Director. Students are examined upon completion of all coursework for the Master's degree.

Metropolitan Design (MD)

The M.S. in Architecture - Metropolitan Design track requires 34 credits. Coursework includes two foundation courses and one urban design studio (12 credits), six credits of electives in architecture, six credits of electives outside of architecture, and 9-10 credits for the Plan A Thesis or Plan B Project(s). At least 24 of the credits are completed before registering for either the Plan A Thesis or a Plan B Project(s). Students enrolled in the M.S. in Architecture - Metropolitan Design track may select either the Plan A Thesis or Plan B Project(s) to demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in their major field, the ability to work independently, and the ability to present the results of their investigation effectively.

Required courses

Foundation courses (12 credits):

Elective courses inside architecture (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester. Please see the current list of suggested electives inside architecture, as well as class schedule for details.

Elective courses outside architecture (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester.  Please see current list of suggested electives outside architecture, as well as class schedule for details.

Thesis or Project(s) (10 credits):

For the Plan A thesis, students must enroll in ARCH 8777 for 10 credits. For the Plan B Project, students pursue a 9-credit studio project under the supervision of the Metropolitan Design program advisor. Students are examined upon completion of all coursework for the Master's degree.

Research Practices (RP)

The M.S. in Architecture - Research Practices concentration requires a total of 30-36 credits, typically completed in one academic year. Due to the intensely integrated nature of the degree, the majority of the curriculum is composed of required courses and internship experiences. The range of 30-36 credits is used in the rare circumstance that a stipend-based internship is not available.

Unique to the MS-RP is a structured relationship between the School of Architecture and AEC industry firms in the Consortium for Research Practices. Students work with faculty for research internships and with firm leaders in practice internships. Together the research and practice internship experiences allow students to demonstrate leadership in innovative, relevant and future-oriented work.

Required courses

Foundation courses (15 credits):

Elective courses (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester. Please see the current list of suggested electives inside and outside architecture, as well as class schedule for details.

Final Project (8-12 credits):

The Plan C Final Project: Research Into Practice is a year-long (minimum) synthesis of research and internships. Students enroll in ARCH 5686, 5687, and/or 5688 in sequence order to explore two complementary ways of working: research into practice and practice into research. The first is documented through research analysis, the second through a rigorous case study documentation.

Sustainable Design (SD)

The M.S. in Architecture - Sustainable Design track requires a total of 34 credits, typically completed over 1.5 years. Coursework includes four foundation courses (12 credits), 6 credits of electives in architecture, 6 credits of electives outside of architecture, and 10 credits for the Plan A Thesis or Plan B Project(s). At least 24 of the credits are completed before registering for either the Plan A Thesis or a Plan B Project(s). Students enrolled in the M.S. in Architecture - Sustainable Design track may select either the Plan A Thesis or Plan B Project(s) to demonstrate familiarity with the tools of research or scholarship in their major field, the ability to work independently, and the ability to present the results of their investigation effectively.

Required courses

Foundation courses (12 credits):

Elective courses inside architecture (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester. Please see the current list of suggested electives inside architecture, as well as class schedule for details.

Elective courses outside architecture (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester.  Please see current list of suggested electives outside architecture, as well as class schedule for details.

Thesis or Project(s) (10 credits):

For the Plan A thesis, students must enroll in ARCH 8777 for 10 credits. For the Plan B Project, students register for 10 credits of additional coursework (typically two 3-credit courses and one 4-credit course) and develop one or two projects/papers requiring up to 120 hours of additional work. The Plan B coursework may be a combination of directed studies, courses in architecture, or courses in related fields outside architecture, determined with consultation and approval by the M.S. Director. Students are examined upon completion of all coursework for the Master's degree.

Master of Heritage Studies and Public History (M.HSPH)

The Master of Heritage Studies and Public History (M.HSPH) requires a total of 36 credits, typically completed over 1.5 years. Students select one of three program tracks: (1) Archaeological Heritage, (2) Public and Applied History, and (3) Historic Preservation. Coursework includes three foundation courses (9 credits), one track-specific course (3 credits), one track-specific elective (3 credits), 6 credits of general electives, 12 credits of internships, and 3 credits for the Plan B Project. At least 24 of the credits are completed before registering for the Plan C Project.

M.HSPH students are expected to acquire both general and specialized sets of perspectives and skills. Thus some required courses are designed to instill breadth and cohort connections, and others are designed to build expertise in specific arenas of the heritage field, represented by the program tracks. Students will also engage in experiential learning through embedded (credited) internships, and through the design and execution of a capstone, community-engaged project upon which candidates will defend their degree.

Required courses

Foundation courses (9 credits):

One track requirement (3 credits):

Archaeological Heritage track - ANTH 5448: Applied Heritage Management (3 credits)

Public and Applied History track - HIST 3001: Public History Methods (3 credits)

Historic Preservation track - ARCH 5673: Documentation for Historic Preservation (3 credits)

One track elective (3 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester. Please see the current list of suggested electives inside architecture, as well as class schedule for details.

Elective courses (6 credits):

Elective course offerings vary each semester. Please see the current list of suggested electives as well as class schedule for details.

Internships (12 credits):

Two 6-credit in-semester internships, one within the Minnesota Historical Society (MnHS) and one with another organization, to be arranged by HSPH advisors.

Project (3 credits):

For the Plan C Project, students register for the 3-credit Capstone Workshop. This course is a community or institutionally collaborative project, to be framed by the end of the semester. It may consist of one large project in which students take ownership of smaller parts, or independent projects.